Fanatics Sportsbook

 Review

Should You Bet at Fanatics Sportsbook?

I know a lot about the buzz on sports betting coming to my state through area forums and neighborhood chatter. Residents got very tired of the ads very quickly. I am happy to say that Fanatics Sportsbook didn't go overboard like some of the competition. That alone might be enough to pique Vermonter's interest in checking out Fanatics Sportsbook. It did mine.

Fanatics does so much right. Even with the app not wanting to load at first, once it did, it was a great experience. The guides are very detailed and packed with information that will help a newbie, and there are excellent sections that are state-specific. The Help Center is packed with answers to every question you have, and live chat is always available.

I know there has been some worry that sports betting is going to create gambling problems. Fanatics has so many ways to limit your betting by day, week, amount, or even take breaks if you think it's getting out of hand.

Even without depositing funds or placing bets, the sportsbook was on the ball telling me when I'd been in the app for 30 minutes. It kept checking in to make sure I was aware of how much time I was spending.

I appreciate these reality checks, and I enjoyed that bets didn't have to be large. You can deposit $5 and set that as your limit. The care that's gone into this is clear, and it makes me respect the sportsbook. For that reason alone, I recommend Fanatics.

How To Join Fanatics Sportsbook

Join Fanatics Sportsbook by following these steps.

• Enter your email

• Create a password

• Choose whether to allow biometrics or not

• Use biometric (fingerprint, facial recognition, etc) to access the next step

The next section for verifying your identity appears.

• Enter your legal name, first and last

• Submit your date of birth

• Enter your cellphone number

• Type out your address, city, state, and ZIP

• Enter the last 4 digits of your SSN

• Read and agree to the terms and conditions

• Agree that you are 21 or older

• Agree that you are not prohibited from sports betting

• Allow account monitoring by Fanatics and the applicable state agency, which in Vermont is the Department of Liquor. and Lottery

Until you complete the verification, you are ineligible to place bets.

Fanatics Odds

Over the years, I've spent a lot of time analyzing other sportsbooks, and one in particular gets a lot of buzz.

Comparing the odds at Fanatics vs. one of its main competitors, I didn't find much of a difference at all. If I did find any variation, it was always +/- 0.5, also known as the hook in sports betting so the differences were minimal.

Fanatics Sportsbook Hands-on Review

Fanatics Sportsbook is newer than you might think, but it's a branch of Fanatics, a sports apparel company established in 1995. Initially, Fanatics set up shop in Florida to sell Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida collegiate apparel. When GSI Commerce acquired Fanatics in 2011, e-commerce remained the company's key industry, but growth potential wasn't to be ignored.

Ten years later, Fanatics and GSI saw the potential in online and retail sports betting. Maryland was the first location for Fanatics Sportsbook in January 2023, and that would be followed by Ohio, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Vermont, and, most recently, Pennsylvania.

For my hands-on review of Fanatics Sportsbook, I take a close look at this sportsbook, its promotions, banking options, and what makes it stand out among the other sports betting apps available in some of the U.S.

Is Fanatics Sportsbook Legit?

Yes. Fanatics Sportsbook receives authorization from each of the 11 states it operates in. That authorization allows the company to provide online sports betting options to players within one of the states. Additionally, there are brick-and-mortar sportsbook locations in Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio.

Players must complete rigid verifications to prove their age and location to ensure they are of age and playing within a state where Fanatics is authorized. Until you complete the verification process, real money betting isn't allowed.

Can You Win Real Money Playing at Fanatics Sportsbook?

Yes. Players who place wagers use the funds they deposit, and any winning bets result in cash prizes that can be withdrawn, providing the withdrawal meets the minimum withdrawal limit.

My Fanatics Sportsbook App Experience

Both Apple's App Store and Google Play offer the Fanatics Sportsbook app for phones and tablets. I installed the Fanatics Sportsbook app on my Android phone in no more than a few seconds. It was a very simple, fast process, which I appreciate. You must turn on geolocation permissions to ensure you're playing from a permitted state.

Following the installation, I did run into an issue getting the app to load. It crashed several times, but my persistence paid off as it suddenly loaded without any hesitation on my fourth attempt. At that point, you must log in or create an account.

Account setup does take time and requires some information, but Fanatics is very clear about what information is stored and why it's necessary. You're also alerted to the fact that your account will be monitored by both the sportsbook and your state's agency that regulates sports betting.

The app itself provides the seamless experience I want to have. Buttons along the bottom include:

• Home

• Schedule

• My Bets

• Search

Along the top of the app are buttons for the promos and all of the different spots. Click your icon to bring up the access to:

• Transaction History

• Notifications

• Security

• Betting & Odds

• Responsible Gaming

• Tax Documents

• Help Center

• Close Account

• Log Out

Load times are lightning-fast, and the areas are clearly laid out, which makes it easy to navigate. The only thing I wish was changed was that the Help Center became difficult to exit until I figured the system out.

Clicking "Home" doesn't return you to the sportsbook's home page. You have to click the back arrow to return to the main Help Center page. Once you're back to the X, click it twice to return to the sportsbook's home page. Clicking it once only returns you to your account screen.

Fanatics Sportsbook Signup Bonus

Fanatics Sportsbook doesn't seem to have too many offers available, at least not in Vermont. And you unfortunately are unlikely to see a no-deposit bonus at any online sportsbooks. To get any available welcome bonus click "Claim Now."

Don't feel discouraged if there isn't a lot available, the FanCash program, Power Hour reward, the occasional PointsBet Jersey promo, and refer-a-friend bonus provide an abundance of rewards.

Deposit Bonus

Each time you log in, a Power Hour reward is offered. Access it by checking your promotion's page. Click on "Promos," and the Power Hour reward is at the top of the page. It will vary from one player to the next and one day to another.

There are no guarantees you'll get a deposit bonus, but it will be something amazing.

Customer Service

Customer service is available through the Help Center. Access this area by clicking on your icon at the top right. Scroll down to the Help Center and go through the FAQs. If your answer isn't in there, there's a link for "Chat With Support" at the top right. Live chat is available 24/7.

If you prefer email support, the address is [email protected]. It takes up to 24 hours to receive a response via email.

Promos for Existing Users

Although the best sportsbook promotions are limited to new users, existing users aren't left out at Fanatics. They offer daily promotions including profit boosts, a referral program, and a comprehensive reward system that rivals anybody in the industry.

Profit Boost

As mentioned, the Power Hour reward varies, but the 25% Profit Boost is one I see the most. The Profit Boost is a booster that increases your winnings if you have a winning bet. To qualify, the bet must not be for more than $5 on a bet that has minimum odds of -1000.

Refer-a-Friend

Share your experience with up to five friends or family members. For each person who clicks your referral link and makes a deposit and wagers at least $20, you get $80 in FanCash. Your friend also gets $80 in FanCash.

You'll find your referral link under "Promo" once you've verified your account.

The Fanatics Refer-a-Friend is as good as they come in terms of a refer-a-friend promotion at any of the online sportsbooks.

Rewards System

Fanatics Sportsbook has a rewards system called FanCash. For each bet you make, you receive a percentage back to use on bonus bets or merchandise at Fanatics.com. The percentages you get are:

• Same Game Parlays - 5%

• Parlays - 3%

• Straight Bets and Odds Boost - 1%

Banking Method Breakdown

Fanatic's available payment methods depend on where you are. When you access the website, a list of eligible states appears, clicking on that state brings up the information on your banking options and minimum and maximum limits.

What Games Are Available?

Like most of the best online sportsbooks, Fanatics has a wide variety of bet types available to place wagers on. And the best part is they offer these bet types on not only the top sports leagues, but even niche sports like darts, cricket, and even pickleball in some states.

They have some of the most comprehensive markets available in the industry.

Leagues You Can Bet On

Both professional and college-level games appear on Fanatics for these sports.

• Aussie Rules Football

• Baseball

• Basketball

• Boxing

• Cricket

• Darts

• Football

• F1

• Golf

• Hockey

• MMA

• NASCAR

• Soccer

• Table Tennis

• Tennis

• Volleyball

Pickleball is another option, but it's only offered in Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Bet Types

The bet types available do vary from one state to the next so you should check your state list to get the exact list for your region.

• 3-Way Winner: Covers the possibility of a tie.

• Futures/Outrights: Bet on the outright winner of a game or competition, such as the team that will win next year's World Series.

• Game-Specific Props: Bettors bet on specific criteria to occur during a game, such as the winner of the first half rather than the entire game.

• In-Game/In-Play: Bet on games that are currently going on.

• Moneyline and Straight Bets: Bet on the winner of that competition, game, round, or tournament.

• Mythical Match-Ups: Match-up two teams that could never face each other and use points they score in games they're playing.

• Odds Boosts: Bets get increased odds on specific options.

• Parlay: Bettors bet on two or more selections at once.

• Player-Specific Props: Bet on a player's performance.

• Round-Robin Parlay: The bettor bets on two or more sections from a greater selection of options. For example, there are five options, and the bettor bets on three of them.

• Same Game Parlay: The bet combines two different sections, such as the team to win and how much they'll beat the other team by.

• Spread/Handicap: A handicap is given to the bettor.

• Team-Specific Props: Bettors bet on specific criteria to occur within the team, such as the first team to score.

• Teasers: Bettors can alter the point spread or total on each section of their bet.

• Totals: Bet on the total number of points.

Does Fanatics Sportsbook Have An Online Casino?

Yes. The Fanatics Casino is available to players in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and offers players a real-money online casino experience.